Important: This is not medical advice
This page is for general information only. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose, treat or cure anything. Herbs are complementary support, not replacements for prescribed medicine.
- Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using any herb, tea or supplement, especially if you take medicine, are pregnant or nursing, have a health condition, or are planning surgery.
- Do not stop or change any prescribed medicine on your own.
- Get emergency care right away (call 911) for serious symptoms such as chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke, severe allergic reaction, heavy bleeding, confusion, or thoughts of harming yourself.
← Natural Healing: Herbs & Home Remedies (all 15 herbs)
Garlic
Allium sativum
- Traditional use
- Used in food and folk medicine around the world, traditionally for colds and for heart and circulation health.
- How people take it
- Fresh cloves in food, or garlic powder, aged extract and oil capsules.
- What the evidence shows
- NIH NCCIH reports that garlic supplements may slightly lower blood pressure and may modestly lower cholesterol in the short term. Evidence that garlic prevents colds or cancer is limited or inconclusive.
- Cautions and interactions
- Can cause bad breath, heartburn and upset stomach. Garlic supplements may increase bleeding risk, so they are a concern with warfarin and other blood thinners and before surgery. Garlic supplements can also lower the level of some HIV medicines. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking them.
More herbs
Where to read more
The information here was written for this site as a plain-language overview. For current, detailed and regularly reviewed information, check the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Mayo Clinic, which both have herb and supplement fact sheets. Your pharmacist can also check your medicines for interactions. Research changes over time, so these sources are always the better place to confirm the latest guidance.
Important: This is not medical advice
This page is for general information only. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose, treat or cure anything. Herbs are complementary support, not replacements for prescribed medicine.
- Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using any herb, tea or supplement, especially if you take medicine, are pregnant or nursing, have a health condition, or are planning surgery.
- Do not stop or change any prescribed medicine on your own.
- Get emergency care right away (call 911) for serious symptoms such as chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke, severe allergic reaction, heavy bleeding, confusion, or thoughts of harming yourself.
